Lynn Fontanne News

Porchlight Music Theatre is launching the Cole Porter Festival - A Celebration of the Man and his Music this October. The festival includes a production of Anything Goes starring Meghan Murphy. Don't miss this incredible tribute to Cole Porter's career.

In this issue, we explore the efforts being made to sustain theater scenes in various cities, the evolution of Chicago's theater landscape, and the exciting announcement of a new Broadway musical adaptation. We also take a look at strategies to keep the curtain from falling on Seattle's theater scene.

Last week, I looked at support for independent producers. And there is more to be written about that—for example, the Creative & Independent Producer Alliance’s National New Work Development Network is likely to become even more important as we move forward. But this week is about World Premiere Wisconsin, a statewide new work festival that ran from March 1 through June 30, 2023.

Kiss Me, Kate! is a musical written by Bella and Samuel Spewack ,with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. The story involves the production of a musical version of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew and the conflict on and off-stage between Fred Graham, the show's director, producer, and star, and his leading lady, his ex-wife Lilli Vanessi.

Dr. Christopher Chan will host a free pre-show seminar Saturday, July 22 at 6:30 p.m., at Peninsula Players before the 8:00 p.m. performance of the Noël Coward's “Blithe Spirit.” 

Ten Chimneys Foundation has announced prominent director Jerry Zaks will serve as Master Teacher for the 2023 Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Program, a national program to serve the future of American theater.

Walnut Street Theatre has announced that Demetria Joyce Bailey has been selected as one of 10 stage actors in the United States to be a 2023 Lunt-Fontanne Fellow.

New Jersey Theatre Alliance and East Lynne Theater Company (ELTC) present a staged reading of the classic romantic comedy THE GUARDSMAN AND THE ACTRESS by Ferenc Molnar, adapted by Mark Edward Lang.

Another classic from the 1940s is gracing the stage at Broadway at Music Circus.  This time, it’s Kiss Me, Kate, the musical-within-a-musical that cemented Cole Porter’s return to Broadway as a successful lyricist and composer.  It ended up being Porter’s longest-running Broadway show and won the very first Tony Award for Best Musical. 

Ten Chimneys Foundation has announced renowned actor Tyne Daly will serve as the Master Teacher for the 2022 Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Program, a national program to serve the future of American theater.

Washington DC's oldest continuously operating theatre, The National Theatre has added four distinguished new members to its Board of Directors. Joining the theatre's Board are private equity pioneer Daryn Dodson, longtime non-profit and arts leader Peter Jablow, innovative advertising and marketing executive Jean Komendera, and civic leader and two-term Washington DC Mayor, Anthony A. Williams.

Howard University has announced the appointment of Phylicia Rashad as dean of the recently reestablished College of Fine Arts, effective July 1, 2021. In this role, she will report to Provost Anthony K. Wutoh. An alumna of Howard University, Rashad graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s in fine arts.

We're looking into the history of each of these theatres, plus their namesakes Ethel Barrymore, Vivian Beaumont Allen, Lynn Fontanne, and Helen Hayes.

Today (March 4) in live streaming: Eva Noblezada visits Backstage Live, a Sophisticated Ladies Reunion on Stars in the House, and more!

Today (February 24) in live streaming: Stars in the House celebrates William Finn's Birthday, Laura Bell Bundy on Backstage Live, and more!

Today's Theater Stories features the Gershwin Theatre! Learn about the theatre's longest running show, Wicked; the extravagant production of Starlight Express; the Theater Hall of fame featuring theater's biggest names, and more!

Broadway might be dark, but that doesn't mean that theatre isn't happening everywhere! Below, check out where you can get your daily fix of Broadway this weekend, February 20-21, 2020.

Broadway might be dark, but that doesn't mean that theatre isn't happening everywhere! Below, check out where you can get your daily fix of Broadway this weekend, February 13-14, 2020.

Today (February 3) in live streaming: All the Girls on Stars in the House, Meet Me in St. Louis, and more!

Today (January 28) in live streaming: LCT looks back at The Light in the Piazza, Jack Plotnick and friends take over Stars in the House, and more!